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L. MEIROWITZ. SOFA BED OR OTHER FOLDING ARTICLE.

No. 420,206. Patented Jan. 28, 1890.

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L. MEIROWITZ. SOFA BED OR OTHER FOLDING ARTICLE.

No. 420,206. Patented Ja11.28, 1890.

N. PETERS. PhuwLflhogmphe Washington. a. a

UNITED STATES LEOPOLD MEIROW ITZ,

ATENT OFFICE.

OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SOFA-BED OR OTHER FOLDING ARTICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,206, dated January28, 1890. Application filed December 20, 1888- Serial No. 294,167. (Nomodel.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEOPOLD MEIROWITZ, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of New York, in the county and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sofa-Beds orother Folding Articles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of articles in which one section ishinged to and folds upon another or base section, and in which thefolding section is supported by a leg when unfolded, and is superposedon the base-section when folded. Among other articles comprised in thisclass are sofa-beds.

The objects of this invention are to provide improved means forautomatically projecting or withdrawing the supporting leg or legs bymeans of the movement of the folding section; also, to provide means forattaching the supporting-leg without consuming any additional space whenthe folding section is folded, and to prevent the obstruction of theleg-operating mechanism by the cushion filling of the folding section.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention as appliedto a sofa-bed, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the folding sectionunfolded. Fig. 2 is a plan showing one corner in 7 horizontal section.Fig. 3 is a cross-section cut on the line 3 3 in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4cis a cross-section similar to Fig. 3, but showfng the sofa-bed as foldedup. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-section of a sofa-bed. Fig. 6is a fragmentary longitudinal section thereof cut on theline 6 6 in Fig.5. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary horizontal section of the same cut on line 7'7 in Figs. 5 and 6. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a supporting-leg.Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical section of the folding section of asofa-bed partly broken out in the center and showing a modified form 'ofmy invention. Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-section thereof cut on line 1010 in Fig. 9.

I will describe my invention as applied to a sofa-bed.

Referring to the drawings, let A represent the base-section of a foldingsofa-bed, B the folding section thereof, and C U the supporting-legs,whichare pivoted'to the folding section. The preferred form of myinvention is shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. In this construction tworecesses D D are formed in the outer face of the side of the foldingsection B, and the legs 0 O are each pivoted to the section B in 'one ofthese recesses, so that in turning on their pivotal axis they will movein the recesses. Each of the legs 0 O has an arm or axle c, Fig. 8, onwhich it is pivoted. This axle 0 projects through the wall of thesection B and carries a pinion cl. The axles c are cylindrical at c toform a journal portion. This part of the axle fits into a bearing-holein the wall of section B, (which hole is preferably bushed in order toafford a better bearing-surface,) and this portion of the axle supportsthe section B when the latter is unfolded and the leg is down. At 0" theaxles c are squared or otherwise adapted to receive the pinion cl. Atits extremity the axle is again cylindrical to take into a bearingholein an additional bearing or re-enforce plate E. The pinion (I, carriedby the axle c of the leg 0, meshes with a rack 6, carried by thesect-ion B. The movement of this rack imparts motion through the pinionand axle to the leg 0. To further support the axle c and to inclose thepinion dand rack (2, so that the excelsior or other cushioning packingin the section B will not enter and interfere with their operation, thebearing-plate E is made to serve as a shield which covers the rack andpinion. For retaining the legs 0 O in position I prefer to drill across-hole through the smaller end of axle 0, back of the shield-plateE, and to drive a cotter therein, which will prevent the axle fromsliding out.

A flexible connectionF connects the rack c with the base-section A andserves to impart motion to the rack e when the folding section B isbeing unfolded. The connection F consists of a cord, strap, or chain f,attached at one end to any convenient part of the base-section A, andextending across the hinging-axis of the two sections A and B. The cordf is carried into section B and under a pulley g therein, and thence tothe outer part of section B, Where its other end is fastened to one armof an elbow-lever h. The other arm of the elbow-lever h is connected tothe f crosses the same, so that the cord may be the flexible connectionF is slackened.

guided thereby, and it is also preferable to place a roller or otheranti-frictional device at the corner of the hinged wall of section B, tocarry the cord at this point and ease its friction. A spring j exerts aretracting force on the rack e, and serves to retract the rack when thesection B is being folded, thereby turning up the leg 0 during theoperation of folding back the section. The greatest extent of movementof the rack e in the construction shown in Fig. 3 is equal to the com- 3bined thickness of the two hinged walls of the sections A and B.

The recess D, for receiving the leg 0, is constructed so that when theleg is turned up it will rest within the recess. To accomplish this therecess D is deeper at its upper part than at the edge of the outer sideof section B, and its face is inclined relatively to the outer face ofthat wall. The leg 0 extends parallel with the inclined face of thisrecess, and therefore when it is turned down it stands out of theperpendicular, and when turned up it lies in the deepest part of therecess D, and as the recess is of a depth equal to the thickness of theleg the latter does not project beyond the plane of the outer side ofthe folding section B. The side wall of the recess D serves as a stop tolimit the movement of leg O when the latter is turned down, and the topwall of the recess serves to stop the movement of the leg when thelatter is turned up. The recess D is made inclined to avoid cutting intothe lower edge of the side wall of the folding section B, as suchcutting would mar theappearance of that wall when the section B isfolded up, and would also weaken the wall.

To avoid placing the rack and pinion (Z in the space intended for thestuffing or cushionin g substance usually placed in the section B, Iprovide a groove or recess Z in the inner side of the wall of thesection B, and in this recess Z, I place the rack e, pinion cl, andspring j. The shield or bearing-plate E is fastened to the inner face ofthe wall of section B and serves to keep the rack e in position in itsgroove Z.

When the sofa-bed is folded up, the legs 0 O are turned up into therecesses D D and Upon unfolding the folding section B the flexibleconnection F is tightened, and through the medium of elbow-lever h andintermediate link 2' moves the rack e, which latter through pinion clturns out the leg 0 as the unfolding operation continues. The mechanismis so proportioned that the leg 0 will complete its outward movementjust as the section B reaches its complete unfolded position. Y'Vhen thefolding section B is being folded up, the flexible connection F isslackened, and the retracting-spring7' retracts the rack 6, therebyturning the leg 0 up into the recess D. By

constructing the recesses D D so that they will contain the legs G 0when the section B is folded the section can be arranged to fold closeagainst the back board of the base-section A, so that no apparent spaceor aperture will be left between the back board and the section B whenthe sofa-bed is folded up.

My invention is susceptible of many modifications and structuralalterations without departing from the essential features thereof, andalthough in thepreferred construction I have shown and described manydetails and parts which are desirable in the operation of my invention,it will be understood that these may be altered or omitted in partwithout materially affecting the operation or departing from the naturethereof. For example, the recesses D D maybe omitted or otherleg-operating mechanism than the rack and pinion may be used, or anysuitable stops for the movement of the legs may be used instead of theends of recesses D D; or the elbow-lever It may be replaced by someequivalent devicesuch as a pulley, for example.

Referring to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, I will now describe amodification embodying my invention, wherein several of the parts aremodified and the general construction is simplified as compared to theconstructionshown in Figs. 1 to 8. In Figs. 9 and 10 the recesses D Dare omitted and the legs 0 0 stand perpendicular to and parallel withthe wall of section B. A cross-head n, having a journal-arm, is placedinside the section B, and its journal arm projects through a cylindricalhole in the wall of section B and is secured to the leg 0, so that thisarm serves as the axle of leg 0. The connection F is carried fromsection A over pulleys o, g, and 0 on section B, and is fastened to thelower arm of a cross-head n. If two legs are used and it is desired tooperate both legs by one connection F, arod p is connected at one end toone arm of the cross-head n, and is connected at its other end with theopposite arm of the other cross-head n, whereby the movement of one legwill be communicated to the other leg and the two will operate together.If it is desired to use a retracting-spring with this construction forturning in the legs, such a spring may be applied to act on one of thecross-heads. I have shown such a spring lettered j as applied tocross-head'n. In this construction the shield or bearing-plate E is notused, as owing to the simplicity of the parts it can be dispensed with.The movement of the legs 0 O is limited by pins q and q, (see Fig. 9,)the former pin serving as the stop for the outward movement of the legs,and the pin q serving to stop the inner or upward movement of the legs.

I prefer to construct the legs 0 O of metal and the connection F of cordor chain; but. any suitable materials may be used instead.

My invention is especially adapted to be applied to sofa-beds; but itmaybe applied to trunks, writing-desks, and other folding articles.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is, in a foldingsofa or otherfoldin g article, the following-defined novel features andcombinations, substantially as herein set forth and shown, namely:

1. The combination, with the folding section having a recess in one ofits outer sides, the face of said recess inclined relatively to theouter face of the section, of a leg pivoted in said recess adapted to beturned up thereinto and extending in a plane parallel with the inclinedface thereof, whereby when the section is unfolded the leg stands at aninclination, and when folded the leg is sunk within the deeper part ofsaid recess.

2. The combination, with the basesection, of a folding section hingedthereto and constructed to fold upon the base-section when folded up andto rest in the same plane therewith when unfolded, a leg pivoted to thefoldi'ng section, and a connection secured at one end within thebase-section, and extending thence across the axis of the hinge-jointbetween the two sections and into the adjacent side of the foldingsection and connected to said leg for turning it down, whereby uponunfolding the folding section the mechanical connection will betightened and the leg will be turned down.

3. The combination, with the base-section, of a folding section hingedthereto and constructed to fold upon the base-section when folded up andto rest in the same plane therewith when unfolded, a leg pivoted to theside wall of the folding section and constructed to move in a planeparallel with such wall, a flexible connection secured at one end withinthe base-section, and extending thence across the axis of thehinge-joint between the two sections and into the adjacent side of thefolding section and connected to said leg for turning it down, wherebyupon unfolding the folding section the mechanical connection will betightened and the leg will be turned down.

4. The combination, with the base-section and a superposed foldingsection and a leg pivoted to the latter, of connections between said legand the base-section carried by the folding section for automaticallyturning down the leg by the unfolding of the latter, and a spring actingto turn up the leg by the release of said connections upon the foldingof the folding section, such connections secured at one end to a fixedpoint of the base-section, and extending thence across the axis of thehinge connecting the two sections and-into engagement with the leg.

5. The combination, with the base-section and a superposed foldingsection, of a leg pivoted to the latter and having a pinion, a movablerack carried by the folding section and engaging said pinion, and aflexible connection secured at one end to a fixed point on the base andat its other end to said rack, and ex=- tending across the axis of thehinge connecting the two sections, whereby upon unfolding the foldingsection the flexible connection will be tightened and the rack will bemoved, and thereby the leg turned downward.

6. The combination, with the base-section and the superposed foldingsection hinged thereto and folding tllereagainst and forming a seat whenfolded up, of a leg pivoted to the latter and having a pinion on itsaxle, a movable rack engaging said pinion and carried by the foldingsection, a connection between said rack and the base fixed at one of itsends rigidly to the base, and extending thence across the axis of thehinge of the section and secured at its other end to the rack, wherebyupon unfolding the folding section the connection will be tightened andthe rack will be moved, and thereby the leg turned downward, and aretracting-spring engaged to retract said leg when the folding sectionis folded up.

7. The combination, with the base-section I and a superposed foldingsection hinged thereto, of a leg pivoted to the sidewall of the latterand having an axle extending through such wall and carrying a pinion, amovable rack carried on the inner side of said wall and engaging saidpinion, and a connection secured to the base beyond the axis of hingingof the two sections, and extending thence across said axis and into theadjacent side of the folding section and secured to said rack, wherebyupon unfolding the folding section said connection will be tightened,the rack will be moved, and thereby the leg turned downward, the foldingsection being formed with a recess in its side wall, in which saidpinion and rack are inclosed.

8. The combination, with the base section and a superposed foldingsection hinged thereto, of a leg pivoted to the side wall of the latterand having an axle extending through such wall and carrying a pinion, amovable rack carried on the inner side of said wall and engaging'saidpinion, and a connection secured to the base beyond the axis of hing ingof the two sections, and extending thence across said axis and into theadjacent side of the folding section and secured to said rack, wherebyupon unfolding the folding section said connection will be tightened,the rack will bemoved, and thereby the leg turned downward, and a shieldcovering said rack and pinion, whereby said rack and pinion areprotected.

9. The combination, with the base-section and a superposed foldingsection hinged thereto, of a leg pivoted to the side wall of the latterand'movable in a plane substantially parallel therewith, a flexibleconnection secured to a fixed point on the base-section, and extendingthence across the axis of the hinge connecting the two sections andacross the adjacent side of the folding section, a bell-crank on thelatter, to which the other end of the said connection is secured, amovable rack connected to the bell-crank, and a pin- IIO ion on the legmeshing with said rack, said In Witness whereof I have hereunto signedconnection so constructed that when the my name in the presence of twosubscribing sections are unfolded it will be tightened, Witnesses.

whereby upon tightening the flexible connec- LEOPOLD MEIROWITZ. tion byunfolding the folding section motion l/Vitnesses: is imparted to therack, and the leg is thereby GEORGE H. FRASER,

turned down. CHARLES K. FRASER.

